Killing Three Baby Books With One Stone
Was it just me or is it every pregnant mom's shower nightmare to get fourteen cutesie baby books that haunt you, unused, from your closet months after your baby is born.
... [More]
Because a Whole Lot of Kids Think That Christmas Celebrates the Birth of Santa
You might want to skip this pick if you left your sense of humor at the office, because this is quite possibly the holiday item that's made us all laugh the loudest this year.
... [More]
Haul Out the Holly
So maybe you need a little Christmas, right this very minute - or maybe you're doing your best Bah, Humbug every time you hear another round of Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer in the supermarket.
... [More]
Noho Ho Ho
I realize it's highly unlikely any tween would carry around some old fashioned photo album to show off her roster of friends when they've got fancy little cell phones and Sidekicks.
... [More]
Moms At Work
If you haven't yet bookmarked Mommy Track'd, The working mother's guide to managed chaos, you haaaave to do it. Besides awesome columns from great writers and a slew of resources for working moms, I always like poking around their shop to see what's new.
... [More]
Sometimes I shop with a person in mind. And then sometimes I just browse fun shops and think, "ooh, who can I get this for?" So-fun UK shop Hey Kid, Paint Your Own Toys.
With all toy recalls, everyone has been joking about making their own toys. But considering I can barely make a complete dinner, I don't know that I can be trusted to handcraft a cool toy worthy of my picky 3-year-old.
... [More]
Mom-Approved Mistletoe
I'm all for celebrating the holidays with a bit of seasonal wear, but I haven't quite figured out why, in order for something to be considered festive, it has to be drenched in snowmen and candy canes.
... [More]
Next Stop, Oprah's Book Club
I have yet to nail down the perfect way to effectively collect and display my daughter's massive amounts of artwork. But then I found Little Author, an awesome mom and dad-run business that will take your kid's artwork and turn it into a real live book.
... [More]
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow Already
I absolutely cannot wait for the first snowfall this year. I am so looking forward to walking around the streets of New York, capturing my baby daughter's reaction to the beautiful sparkling snowflakes for the first time. Well, that, and there's also there's the matter of the shoes.
In the News[boy]
I am now calling my son "The kid with the largest head on this planet" -- said with love, of course. The search has been on to find a hat for him that's cute, warm, and won't cut off all blood flow to his brain.
... [More]
The Little Engine That Refused to Contain Lead Paint
In light of this year's recall of the Ubiquitous Licensed Cartoon Character Train Set Which Shall Remain Nameless, we've gotten an insane number of inquiries from cautious parents looking for other options.
... [More]
The Cool Mom Picks Bag of the Year (With the Story to Back it Up)
Here's how much we love the bags from Crystalyn Kae: I emailed designer Crystalyn Kokorowski about ordering one of her gorgeous Soiree Drawstring Bags for myself, and then one for my co-editor Kristen as a holiday gift. Simultaneously, Kristen was ordering one for herself...and one for me.
When is a Box Not a Box? When It's a Mansion
Like all parents, I've learned that indeed it's true, kids are often happier playing with the package a gift comes in than the gift itself. Of course it doesn't stop us from giving them more than cardboard boxes. Until now.
... [More]
Bring Home a Kitten for the Holidays
I am a little melancholy as I embark upon my first holiday season in close to two decades without my beloved, nasty, shedding, crazy, man-eating cat. But the trade-off means that I can justify bringing home these Little Dear Fatkitties from artist Aimee Ray.
... [More]
Baby Gifts That Give Back
On the Outside Chance That No, You Don't Feel Like Feeding Your Baby in the Bathroom
Heading into the home stretch wth baby #3, I've been starting to think about all of those upcoming feedings. Nope, not the ones that will jolt me out of bed every hour on the hour, but the ones that take place during the day. In public. With other people around
... [More]
Coats on the Wings of Angels
I confess I'm totally guilty of tossing the kids' coats over chairs, the stroller handle, the exersaucer (the floor) - pretty much everywhere but in the coat closet. Excellent example I'm setting, I know.
... [More]
I Go to Extremes
If you rummaged through my son's drawers you'd find absolutely no sports themed wear. I'm just not a fan of overpriced licensed jerseys that help fund overpaid athletes.
... [More]
Kiss These CDs, They're Irish
Enough with the four thousand versions of "Lullaby, and Goodnight" already. For something out of the ordinary but with the same lulling qualties, I'm loving Putumayo's new compilation Celtic Dreamland.
... [More]
Yo. My Blocks are Cooler Than Yours.
So blocks are blocks, right? They're wooden, you build with them, you knock them down. Blocks. Yeah, well, not the Graffiti Blocks from Rockin' Blocks.
Baby's First Way Cool Christmas Clothes
I have never understood what people need with a "Baby's First Christmas" onesie spelled out in red and green bling anyway.
... [More]
Hey, Snowflakes Really Are One-of-a-Kind
I've always been more of an artisan-made, crafty ornament decorator of Christmas trees. I know, you're not surprised, but shiny balls that come in the 30-pack from CVS are not really my style.
... [More]
Evidently You Can Run as Fast as You Can and Catch the Gingerbread Man
Plenty of families have their own weird Christmas traditions. At my mom's house, it was to bake gingerbread men to hang on the Christmas ficus, then bite their ilmbs off while they dangled from the tree.
... [More]
Giving Thanks to the Trees, Too
Team Cool Mom Picks has always been a bit rah rah about books as gifts. Besides the obvious benefits, they're not quickly outgrown and they're pretty much guaranteed not to be on any recall lists any time soon.
... [More]
Better Living Through No Chemicals
After my daughter’s first bath irritated her skin from head to toe, I have been on the lookout for great baby bath products that are made from ingredients I feel I can trust. And pronounce. You know, more honey and oatmeal, less DMDM Hydantoin.
... [More]
Whoever (or maybe that's just my mother-in-law) said you need batteries and talking toys to get kids interested in learning has obviously never seen I Hear the Tooth Fairy Pays Double With These Pillows
One of CMP's all time favorite artists, Michelle Caplan is now wowing us with her brand new tooth fairy pillows. The coolest part? They don't look like tooth fairy pillows. (Or at least that's cool to me.)
... [More]
Possibly the Only Holiday Travel Without Delays
When I popped the Travel Time Stories CD in and a sweet woman's voice called my daughter by name and proceeded to tell her a story, just for her, well, it was like magic. Magic spun by fairies while dancing on rainbows with shiny golden unicorns.
... [More]
They'll Never Be Able to Throw These Cards Away
I've decided to forgo the traditional family Christmas picture holiday card extravaganza this year. And thanks to Ruva Cards, my excuse will not be total laziness (for a change), but rather, my desire to show off my daughter's artistic talent.
... [More]
Yet Another Reason to Wear Your Baby
After wandering around a conference for two straight days with my son in a sling, I realized a couple of things: 1. He's pretty darn heavy. 2. It didn't matter what I wore because the only thing anyone could see all weekend was my sling.
... [More]
The Ultimate Bottle: According to the Company, and According to Me
Confession: I used to think nipple confusion was a myth invented by lactivists to keep kids on the boob. And then my second girl came along and, holy sleepless night, Batman, she would not take a bottle, no way no how.
... [More]
How Many Trees Have Died for Our Mindless Bathroom Reading?
I cannot be the only mom dreading the walk up from the mailbox these days. It would be fine if it was filled with all sorts of cards and gifts and, you know, envelopes of free money. But nope. Just bills and about sixty million pounds of catalogs that I totally don't need.
Gifts That Make You Wish You Had Cooler Friends
Each holiday season, I make sure to stock up on a box full of emergency hostess and holiday gifts. They're the kinds of things you can pretty much give to anyone when you get a last minute invite, or--horror of all horrors--someone hands you a gift and you haven't reciprocated.
... [More]
Christmas Tea
Every time I click over to Tiny Prints for a little virtual window shopping for Holiday Cards, I've found myself drawn to the same kinds of designs--they've got a slight Asian flair, and incorporate more unusual motifs than holly, like birds and delicate flowers.
You've Got Guts, Kid
I'm not sure why people feel the need to go up to my little girl and call her "Princess." Is she wearing a tiara? Waving a wand? Setting me up in a 60 room castle filled with jewels? If only.
... [More]
7 Crazy Nights Plus 1 Semi-Responsible One
Come on Baby, Do the Locomotion
There's a rumor going around that boys love trains. I wouldn't know for sure, having girls myself (including one who happens to love trains) but I will assume that every boy I've ever seen who needs to be pried from the train set in our local toy store speaks for his brethren.
... [More]
And The Award for Least Annoying Kids Music of 2007 Goes To...
If you have one long car ride to the in-laws planned this holiday season, or even one trip to the mall where you're likely to get stuck in 16 hours of traffic just to get out of the parking lot, you might want to consider updating your savage kid-soothing music selection.
... [More]
With Baby #1, I made the mistake that some parents do with gear, putting aesthetics ahead of practicality. So this time around, I've been sticking with more products that work as they should, and Look Prettier As You Wrestle That Turkey into Submission
Next week, as you tirelessly slave over a hot turkey and your eighteen meticulously prepared and garnished side dishes (What? You don't do that? Really?) I can only hope that you are looking as lovely and fresh as can be.
... [More]
The Breast Advice
In my experience, the average book about breastfeeding is about as interesting-slash-entertaining as your 6th grade health text. While it may contain valuable information, how much of it can you absorb when you're nodding off from third trimester narcolepsy anyway?
... [More]
Dear Santa, Please Don't Bring Me Anything On the Recall List
I admit I'm cynical about a lot of things, but Santa, for some reason, is not one of them. I am already having the best time telling my 2 year old about how this guy sneaks into the house while she's sleeping and eats the cookies that she's just made.
... [More]
It's Never Too Early for Custom Shoes
You might think that baby shoes made to order are merely something just for the rich. Allow me to correct that misperception.
... [More]
C'mon, Get the Kid a Pony Already
I honestly didn't understand the appeal of stick horses until I set my two year-old loose on a toy store display filled with them. My God, you would have thought they were real ponies.
... [More]
Meta Ornament
I have this thing about choosing holiday cards - if there's any chance that mine ends up shoved to the back of the mantle behind the 8 million other cards, I'd just as well not send one.
... [More]
Because You Pushed it Real Good
Of all the unspeakables that go along with pregnancy, can we agree that hemorrhoids take the cake? Chances are if you pushed out a baby, you've got a few of your very own, um, badges of honor.
... [More]
The Chosen People
This month is National Adoption Month and we've been keeping our eyes out for cool things to honor the little people who had to make two tough journeys early in life - the one through the birth canal, and then the one to their meant-to-be-parents.
... [More]
You Say Draidel, I Say Dreidel...
If you've been looking for some Hanukkah cards that feel a little more you and a little less Great Aunt Rose, you must stop by Pop Judaica, otherwise known as ChosenCouture.com.
... [More]
Christmas Cards For a Song
We're always on the lookout for something a little special and different in the way of holiday cards. I mean, anyone can hit the local Hallmark for a box set--if you don't mind your generic card blending in with all the other generic cards on your loved ones' mantles.
... [More]
The Modern Family Tree
Sometimes you just want a little something to send to a new parent, something with a Cool Quotient that exceeds the price tag. We've found that very thing in the limited edition Fill-in-the-Blank Family Tree.
... [More]
Bamboo For Babies
While we're busy paring down the plastic in our kids' toyboxes these days--whoops--totally forgot about the plastic in the kitchen drawers.
... [More]
Keeping the Baby Close to Your Heart. Literally.
So you've done the ID bracelet. You've done the locket. You've done every cool keepsake-y baby gift known to man and yet you're still not satisfied. You want the newest, freshest, coolest, latest. Voila: The brand new Baby Coins from perennial CMP fave, Julian & Co.
... [More]
The Real Meaning of Christmas (And Also Toys)
Here's a story for the holidays we absolutely couldn't resist: A couple falls in love, gets married, she's diagnosed with cancer soon after, she survives (beautifully!) and goes on to give birth to two wonderful babies. Then they open an awesome toy shop to help spread joy to other kids, all while helping to support children's charities.
A Pillow Worth Grabbing
Everyone knows that babies love those blankets and pillows with the tags all over them, but not everyone loves the mass produced versions made from synthetic materials.
... [More]
96 Pictures Are Worth 96,000 Words, Plus Your Signature
Living far from friends and family means that the holiday card has the burden of making up for a whole lot of missed milestones. But who can pick just one picture to represent a whole year's worth of cuteness? Well, now you don't have, to thanks to Ringobaby's brilliant solution.
... [More]
Laptops All Around!
Tuning Out
I used to say that I'd never lie to my child. But the older he got, and the more obsessed he became with watching registered trademark cartoon characters, the more often I've found myself saying, "Sorry honey, the television is broken again."
... [More]
Psst...Girls Like Trains Too
I know that traditionally, it's boys who like cars and trains and trucks and girls who like...I don't know. Sparkles. I guess.
... [More]
Peace, Love and the Blankies
I think we can all conjure up a few music artists today whose tunes are snappy, but whose life choices and lyrics might be a little, um... toxic. That's why I dig cartoon character pop stars.
... [More]
Delicious, Not Deceptive
There's been quite a bit of buzz among parents lately about whether hiding healthy foods in other foods is the right thing to do. For those who prefer to keep nutrients in plain view of the family, I've found a great resource in the Smart Foods Healthy Kids web site.
... [More]
The Name's Superoboturbo (Shortened From Superoboturbostein)
My son is currently more into electronics than art, preferring robots to Rothko. Go figure. So when it comes to the pictures that we'd all like on his walls, I never thought I'd find what I found from the artist Superoboturbo at Kindergallery.
... [More]
Phooey!
Back in my younger days, I had a thing for the Tin Tin series of comics on my shelf. They were in French. I didn't speak French. It didn't matter. The illustrations allowed me to create my own story in my head.
Shopping Cart Covers You Don't Want to Cover
We are considering starting a category in the CMP archives called "If You're Freaked Out By Germs..." There are evidently more high chair and shopping cart covers out there than I think people actually using them.
... [More]
Not Like Any Grandmother Sweater We've Ever Seen
When I think of grandma sweaters I think of scratchy, wooly, dated things that you pull out for holidays - if you really really have to. But Fairybread for Kids, is putting a new spin on the term.
... [More]
Europe on $40 a Day
When I was little, I was lucky enough to go to this super cool place in Holland called Madurodam, an entire city done in miniature.
... [More]
The Earth Minus Plastic Bags? My Kind of Math.
In my efforts to make my household a little greener, I've attempted to give up plastic grocery bags. (And yes, paper ones too, smartypants.)
... [More]
Pieces of 14
If your child loves puzzles as much as mine, maybe you've got a collection (like we do) featuring boring animals and licensed characters that really have no business being called "a collection."
... [More]
Getting Your Fixx of Indie
Just in time for the holidays, our blogging friends at Indie Fixx have come along with their very own online boutique, appropriately named the Indie Fixx Shop. Perfect!
... [More]
UMI Oh My
I, sadly, don't have unlimited funds to set my toddler up with one pair of shoes in every color for every occasion. (Oh, the tragedy of it all.) So what I try to do is find something cute that she can wear with dresses, but also lets her kick up the asphalt on the playground.
... [More]
More Picks! More Picks!
So how much great stuff is out there for the holidays these days? SO much great stuff. And how much time do you have to spend on the web looking for it? Um, not so much time. Well, beautiful readers,... ... [More]
Sets With a Story
I'm really not a "cute baby set" kind of present giver. I generally choose interesting separates and put them together but it doesn't often have that wow factor I want for really great friends. But then I found Lil Squirtz.
The Tote with the Most
I'm always pleased when one of our favorite designers comes up with yet another must-have, like the wonderful woven totes from Cool Mom Picks regular Alena Hennessey.
... [More]
Spreading Joy
We're among friends, mamas. Let's admit that while we're always touched by the thoughtfulness of friends and family towards our babies, there's an entire category of ohmygod you shouldn't have but SO glad you did gifts.
... [More]
Shockingly, Bigger Babies Get Cold Too
Nothing like a chilly night to make parents thankful for those smart little sleep sacks--unless you're like me, and your enormous 10-month-old has surpassed the weight and age limits on all the sacks out there.
... [More]
A Rattle With Your Baby's Name On It
Ever since our Safer Toy Guide went live, I'm growing more and more into the idea of getting all the mass produced plastic stuff out of my baby's mouth. (Hear that, grandparents?) Wood and knit rattles were good enough for babies for decades and hopefully they're good enough for my girl.
... [More]
Picky Eaters? It's Natural.
That stage between baby food and fully independent dining (you know, with utensils and napkins and food that's actually ingested) can be pretty awkward as I've now learned twice. Not only are toddlers not yet adept at transporting the food from plate to mouth, they tend to be annoyingly picky.
... [More]
Dreaming of Boobs. And...Boobs. Maybe Also Boobs.
This Farm is Muy Loco
Lately I've been mixing it up with some music and learning all in one with Professor Pocket: Our Silly Farm Adventure. This much lauded, award-winning CD was created by two sisters-in-law, and mixes English and Spanish dialogue through both spoken word and singing.
... [More]
Saving The Earth One Empire-Wasted Toddler Dress At A Time
This cozy lounge dress is simply adorable and stylish, no doubt about it. So would you be surprised if I told you that the vivid blue you see is 100% organic cotton from genius kids label Kate Quinn Organics?
... [More]
The Princess and the Pen
I'm not a fan of princess-y stuff per se, but I'm not above using small doses of it here and there when it's really needed. So when we came across the EpiPen Princess, a pink pouch for holding potentially life-saving injectors for kids with allergies, I thought yep.
... [More]
Paging Dr. Mom
Seems like every time my girls and I hit the neighborhood playground, there's a mini injury of some sort. We've had the bee sting, the bloody nose, the scraped knee, and the invisible boo-boo that needs more TLC than Neosporin.
... [More]
Sugar Skulls to Go With That Sugar Cereal
Happy Dia de los Muertos! Or, as I think of it, single coolest holiday not yet imported to America.
... [More]
Not Your Mother's Polyester
I'm a mom who tends towards cottons and natural fabrics. So when I heard about the quick-drying kids duds from Milk Factory I admit I was skeptical. But I've come around.
Geneticist Humor
Just Call Her Spike
You wouldn't know it to look at me, but this mellow mama's got a punk rock interior. Fortunately (I think) my older daughter's inherited a bit of my hidden dramatic side. So we had the best time recently playing with the Hair Putty from Love Me Baby Me.
... [More]
Win It!
Subscribe to CMP and win
a $250 Room Seven shopping spree from The Silly Wagon
Click for Details
Congrats to April winner Amy L
Sponsors
Emporium
Featured Partner: Wild Dill
Looking for fair, natural, and organic products for your kiddos? Then put Wild Dill at the top of your list.
Use code CMP10 FOR 10% off
For more discounts from our hand-selected partner shops, visit the brand new CMP Emporium.
Ask Cool Mom Picks
I have been searching for a photo album or scrapbook that is NOT in the classic style you see everywhere that's either pink and fluffy or traditional leather. Any ideas? -Sarah
Googling "photo albums" can definitely lead to very bad things. We always find cool stuff at Zanisa and we like the Molly West books at Chittypulga.
But lately we really dig the handmade wooden albums from Tree by Kerri Lee [pictured] with metal hinges and the funky wooden ring and strap. And the prices are terrific.
Got a gift dilemma? A shopping conundrum? Write to CMP at info@coolmompicks.com.
CMP Flickr Group
CMP reader Sarah's daughter Alli looks cozy and snug in her Baby Bisou Carrier.
Have a picture of your little one (or yourself) in a Cool Mom Picks find or prize you've won? Join our Flickr group so we can show off your good taste to the world.
We like them like them:
Contact - Disclaimer+Contests - Search+Archives - Badges+ Buttons
Site Management by Heideldesign Logo by LEAP Design